This was a very productive week. I'm leaving for Belize tomorrow, returning home Saturday mid-day. With our NGO partner, Alcance Nicaragua, I visited all four of the communities that we are working in. I documented the construction status of our composting latrines in Los Alvarez and El Llanito, near Santa Lucia in Boaco; and El Tunel and La Prussia, near Masaya and Granada. In addition, we were able to talk to the builders, community organizers, and individual family members who are participating in the project. I captured suggestions and observations from the builders to consider for … [Read more...] about Heading for Belize after great week in Nicaragua
Rotary
Ecostoves in Comejen Nicaragua
Yesterday we left Santa Lucia where we been looking at the composting latrine project and Alcance's work in new communities. We arrived at Alcance's offices in Masaya around 11 am. They gave me an update on their work on the composting latrines in La Prussia and El Tunel and their Initiatives with new communities. After lunch together, the Santa Lucia group went back. I went with Ricardo Rivera and Adriana Cruz to Comejen, one of the new communities they're working in. We met with two families to discuss their experience with the pilot project for ecostoves. These ecostoves are so … [Read more...] about Ecostoves in Comejen Nicaragua
Microloan programs: In El Llanito and Los Alvarez Nicaragua and worldwide via Kiva
Yesterday, while visiting composting latrines under construction in Los Alvarez, Luz Dania, from our NGO partner Alcance Nicaragua, told me about a local community microloan program. It started as pilot program in El Llanito using the eco-stoves project repayments to their own community based organization. Then they were able to get $5000 from Outreach International to expand the program. Loans are up to a maximum of $200 US, but many are much smaller. Loans are intended to address various problems and opportunities. Applicants submit requests for review by a committee. They've made 39 … [Read more...] about Microloan programs: In El Llanito and Los Alvarez Nicaragua and worldwide via Kiva
Construction progress: composting latrines in El Llanito and Los Alvares
I missed a morning flight in Houston. My Alcance Nicaragua NGO partners picked me up at the airport in Managua and we drove to Santa Lucia. Got in after 11 pm. I'm staying in the Alcance office in Santa Lucia. Today we visited homes in El Llanito and Los Alvarez to view progress on construction of composting latrines. We talked with beneficiaries and the builders. I noted their suggestions for improvement and documented changes so we can "as-build" these units and incorporate improvements in the design for future deployments. … [Read more...] about Construction progress: composting latrines in El Llanito and Los Alvares
El Llanito well for new water supply project
Martha Castillo Ocon, our Masaya Rotary Club partner, visited El Llanito to sign contracts with builders for the composting latrines. She also visited the existing community well that we plan to do our next Rotary/EWB project around: install a submersible electric pump, elevated storage tank, and a five kilometer pipeline distribution system to deliver water to tapstands throughout the community. This will address a long standing community priority. It will reduce the amount of time that mostly women and girls spend filling and hauling water containers from the well back to their homes. … [Read more...] about El Llanito well for new water supply project